Traffic Up On Mid-Hudson Crossings

HIGHLAND – For the first time in six months, traffic is up on the five Hudson River crossings operated by the New York State Bridge Authority.

Over 91,000 more vehicles crossed the river in April for an increase slightly under two percent.

A total of 4.9 million vehicles traveled over the spans this past April, compared to a little more than 4.8 million during the same month last year.

Bridge Authority Executive Director Joseph Ruggiero said they need that trend to continue.

“Had traffic continued to slide at three to four percent a month, if it did for the next eight months, we would fall short in our revenue projections this year,” Ruggiero said. “Not that that would harm the financial position of the authority, but it’s not a trend you want to start getting into because that could have long-term effects on the capital plan.”

Traffic in April grew the most on the Mid-Hudson Bridge connecting Highland and Poughkeepsie, followed by the Bear Mountain and Newburgh-Beacon bridges.

Revenue was up on all five bridges in April with $4.9 million collected, compared with $4.7 million collected in April 2012.